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Malaysia Sun
5 hours ago
- Business
- Malaysia Sun
Seven new bypass roads proposed across Tripura to boost connectivity: CM Manik Saha
Agartala (Tripura) [India], July 20 (ANI): In a major push towards infrastructure development, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha announced that seven new bypass roads have been proposed across the state to ease traffic and enhance connectivity. CM Saha reiterated the government's commitment on Saturday to linking all district and subdivision headquarters, as well as unconnected habitations, to national highways via double-lane roads. CM Saha made these remarks while addressing the National Seminar on Infrastructure Development in the North-East Region of India, held at Pragna Bhavan, Agartala. He highlighted the government's long-term infrastructure vision, asserting that robust infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and regional empowerment. 'Without infrastructure, nothing can be achieved. Roads, highways, airports, water supply, and urban infrastructure play a key role in industrial growth, service expansion, and social welfare,' the Chief Minister said. He emphasised that the state has undertaken numerous transformative initiatives in the past seven years that have significantly improved its socio-economic landscape. Saha revealed that a 449 km ring road has been proposed for Agartala under the Bharatmala scheme. The alignment includes the Agartala Bypass from Khayerpur to Amtali, an Eastern Bypass from Lembuchara to Khayerpur, and a Western Bypass connecting Lembuchara to Amtali. Flyover construction is also on the cards, with the Radhanagar to IGM Hospital flyover to be undertaken in the first phase. The seven new bypass roads are proposed at Kumargarh, Dhanpur, Manu, Ambassa, Teliamura, Ranirbazar, and Jirania, all key towns where national highways currently run through congested areas. 'In the previous budget, over Rs7,000 crore was allocated specifically for infrastructure development,' he added. Tripura CM provided detailed statistics on Tripura's existing road infrastructure, stating that the total Public Works Department (PWD) road length in the state is 10,618.423 kilometres. This includes 1,057 kilometres of state highways, 171 kilometres of major district roads, 483 kilometres of other district roads, 1,167 kilometres of urban roads, and 7,740 kilometres of village roads. The national highway network in the state spans 923 kilometres, out of which 509 kilometres have already been upgraded to double-lane roads with paved shoulders. Additionally, four more national highways covering a total distance of 229 kilometres have been declared in principle. Plans are in place to upgrade the entire 1,057 km of state highways to double-lane roads, he added. Highlighting Tripura's strategic importance, CM Saha said, 'The northeastern region is India's powerhouse with massive hydropower, petroleum, and gas potential. Tripura, sharing borders with Bangladesh, can serve as a vital gateway to Southeast Asia.' He also mentioned the nearing completion of the Light House Project, and construction of the Unity Mall and several high-rise departmental buildings, aimed at modernising Tripura's urban landscape. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Engineer Chinmay Debnath, Engineer O.P. Goel, Indian Building Congress President Engineer Rajiv Dabbrama, PWD Chief Engineer Engineer Shyamlal Bhowmik, and other senior officials and stakeholders in the infrastructure sector. (ANI)
Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi govt to come up with new Water Master Plan to replace decades old pipelines: Minister
With an aim to upgrade the aging water supply infrastructure in Delhi and replace all the old pipelines which are 40 to 80 years old, the BJP government is planning a new 'Water Master Plan', Water and Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Saturday. During a visit to various areas in New Delhi, the constituency he represents in the Assembly, Singh made the announcement and also highlighted the ongoing water crisis and deteriorating conditions of water infrastructure in the city. One of the root causes of the city's water problems, he underlined, is the extremely old pipeline system, which has not been upgraded in decades. 'There are a lot of places in Delhi where people face issues of polluted water. It is because water pipelines are 40 to 80 years old,' the Minister said. He also took aim at the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, saying, 'The previous government did not lay even a single new pipeline. They neglected one of the most basic needs of the people — clean and safe drinking water.' Singh said that the current government has already taken concrete steps to overhaul the water and sewerage infrastructure across the Capital. 'We are preparing a new Master Plan for Delhi. New pipelines will be placed… the budget is passed and further sanctioned, tenders are passed, and work at some places has already started,' the Minister asserted. He also underlined, 'This government is only five months old, but I want to make you all believe that in one year, Delhi's face will change.' The PWD Minister assured residents that these infrastructure upgrades are not limited to announcements but are visible on the ground, with work already initiated in certain localities. He also instructed the departments concerned to ensure that timelines are met and that the work is carried out with full transparency and without any compromise on quality.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
In Major Infra Boost, Delhi To Get 1,300 Hospital Beds, Better Roads
New Delhi: The number of beds in state-run hospitals will increase by nearly 1,300, with Delhi govt expected to complete the construction of additional blocks in four health facilities within two months. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The construction of new blocks in Acharya Shree Bhikshu Hospital at Moti Nagar, Dada Dev at Dabri Morh, Guru Gobind Singh Hospital and Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital at Mangolpuri was undertaken by the previous govt in 2019-2020 but could not be completed for lack of funds. In a meeting on Friday to review Public Works Department projects, minister Parvesh Verma informed chief minister Rekha Gupta that the work was in the final stages. While estimates were being made for furniture, formalities related to fire certification were being processed. The AAP govt took up the construction of 11 new hospitals, including seven with ICUs, and addition to new blocks in 13 existing health facilities in 2019-2020. These required more than Rs 10,250 crore for completion. While the BJP govt is exploring the possibility of building new hospitals on a public-private partnership mode, the old health facilities will be completed with its own funds. During the meeting, PWD also discussed the challenges being faced in the construction of three court complexes, which started last year. While the construction began in April last year and should have been completed by early 2026, officials informed CM that technical reasons, including the delay in submission of structural and architectural drawings by the consultant and high water levels at the sites, hampered the progress. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the district court complex at Shastri Park in northeast Delhi and an additional court on a new plot in Karkardooma have both seen only 7% of physical progress, there has been only 3% construction of the district court complex at Rohini's Sector 26. PWD also informed Gupta about the road strengthening work being undertaken across the city. While it has sought nearly Rs 953 crore from the central govt under the central road fund to be used for recarpeting over 400km of the road network across the city, another financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore will come from the Centre under the Urban Development Fund for capital projects in the city. PWD has decided to take up the construction of parallel flyovers at Modi Mill and Savitri Cinema intersections on Outer Ring Road, which will cost Rs 412 crore. Officials revealed that the department would soon finalise the projects for the remaining fund of Rs 588 crore, which will come under the scheme. Officials said Verma also informed CM about various other projects being undertaken by his department, including the installation of crash barriers from funds received under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment, construction of five priority hospitals and hiring of mechanical road sweepers integrated with anti-smog guns and dump vehicles. Verma alleged that under the previous AAP govt, many projects were started recklessly and in many cases the scope of work was grossly altered ex-post facto without the approval of the competent authority. "Due to these unauthorised changes, sufficient funds could not be made available. This resulted in stoppage of these projects midway, causing large public funds to get stuck without yielding any dividend for the people," the minister said. He added, "The present govt is tirelessly working to make these facilities available for people of Delhi. In the first stage, govt has already targeted completion of four such brownfield projects in a matter of just a few weeks." Full support is being extended to PWD by Delhi govt in terms of sufficient funds and proper guidance, the minister claimed. The people of Delhi were going to benefit greatly from this fast-tracking of projects which is being keenly led and monitored by the central govt, he said.
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Delhi govt appoints PWD nodal officer to fast-track 5G, broadband infra rollout
NEW DELHI: In a major push to strengthen broadband infrastructure and accelerate 5G deployment in the city, Delhi government has appointed a nodal officer within the Public Works Department (PWD) to coordinate with the State Broadband Committee. The committee, functioning under the Ministry of Communication, addresses challenges faced by telecom service providers in setting up towers and laying optical fibre cables in urban areas. This move comes after a meeting held last year where central authorities asked departments like the PWD to designate officials responsible for handling connectivity-related clearances. 'The newly appointed nodal officer will focus on clearing pending permissions related to Right of Way (RoW)' a key requirement for laying underground optical fibre and erecting telecom towers,' officials said. To streamline infrastructure, the committee has directed the Urban Development Department to ensure that all agencies planning excavation work inform the relevant authorities beforehand.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Apple orchards on forest land: Himachal to approach apex court against green felling, says minister
The revenue, horticulture and tribal development minister Jagat Singh Negi on Friday said that the state government will approach the Supreme Court against the Himachal high court's directive that has lead to mass felling of fruit-bearing and green trees on encroached forest lands. Himachal horticulture minister Jagat Singh Negi. (File) As part of the ongoing HC monitored exercise to clear forest land of all encroachments about 3,700 apple plants have been cut so far. Negi who was speaking to media in Shimla on Friday said that nowhere in the country is green felling allowed and albeit the state government is removing encroachments from forest land, they will challenge green felling. Negi said the state is complying with the HC's orders on removing illegal encroachments, but the destruction of full-grown apple orchards and green cover as part of the eviction process could lead to serious environmental consequences, especially in the context of heavy monsoon, cloudbursts, and floods. 'Eviction of illegal encroachments is being carried out, but cutting decades-old fruit-bearing trees is not justified,' Negi said, adding that the state will file a petition in the apex court to prevent unnecessary destruction of trees. He urged the judiciary to differentiate between illegal possession and green asset preservation, and asked the Centre to frame a balanced policy that allows removal of encroachments without harming the environment. Cutting fruit trees is wrong: Rathore All India Congress Committee spokesperson and Theog MLA Kuldeep Rathore said, 'I will not comment on the court's orders, but cutting fruit trees in the month of Sawan is wrong.' He said, 'This action could have been postponed for three-four months. During monsoon rendering people homeless at such a time is against democratic values.' Instead of axe-cutting the trees, the govt should take possession: Shanta Former chief minister Shanta Kumar said that instead of cutting down the lush green gardens, the government should take them under its control. 'These gardens should be brought under the control of the forest department and made a source of income,' said former CM. Shongtong hydroelectric project to be completed by December 2026 Construction of Shongtong hydroelectric project to be completed by December 2026, said Singh Negi after chairing cabinet sub-committee to review matters related to the 450 MW Shong-tong Hydroelectric project being developed by HPPCL. He said that approximately 60% of the construction work has been completed. He urged the officials to ensure the project to be completed before December, 2026. He expressed satisfaction over the progress and said that the positive indication indicates the early completion of the project. PWD roads to be entered in the revenue records: Negi Negi on Friday directed the officials of the PWD to instruct all Deputy Commissioners and other revenue officers to conduct girdawari (field inspection) to ensure that government properties, especially PWD roads that have existed for more than 20 years and are duly recorded in the revenue records. Detailed discussions were held during the meeting regarding the registration of possession of all government properties, particularly PWD roads in the revenue records. Negi also asked to ensure necessary action in this regard by August 1 and asked the officials to submit the compliance report to the panel.
